Automotive air conditioning apparatus



1948- e. E. SELDON 2,444,537

) AUTOMOTIVE AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed June 2, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

GEORGE E. SELDON y 1948- a. E. SELDON 2,444,537

AUTOMOIIVE AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed June 2, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. GEORGE E. SELDON BY 6% Patented Jul 6,1948

UNITED STATES PATENT- auromonvn fifi onmriomo OFFICE APPARATUS George Seldon, Kirkwood, Mo. Application June 2, 1944, Serial No. 538,481.

4 Claims. (cl. 62-117) This invention relates to means for air conditioningthe passenger space of an automotive strains normally incident to the running of the vehicle.

Although many cars are provided with hot water heaters which include heat exchanging usually prevent the mounting of an additional within the passenger compartment. water may be coolant and, thereby, avoidlarge supply sity of tightly sealed These objects and other more detailed objects evaporator coil 2 hereafter appearing are attained substantially by the apparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which I I Fig. 1 is a plan view of one form of the apparatus-and showing parts of the vehicle engine.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing a modification.

Figs. 3 and 4 are detail sections showing a valve which maybe inserted between the condenser and collector in diflerent positions.

Fig. 5 is a generally third form of refrigerating apparatus.

The apparatus in the figures is adapted for use in conjunction with an internal combustion engine of the water jacketed type. The engine is shown at it and is provided with the usual radiator ii and fan l2. The top of the radiator is p iii to the water pump it operated by the fan shaft, and a hose l5 connects the bottom of the radiator with the engine. Cooling water is circulated in a well known manner through the radiator, water pump, and the water jacket of the engine. A portion of the engine exhaust pipe'is shown at l6 terminating in the muilier ii.

In the form in Fig. 1, a condenser I9 is carried at the rear of themuiiier and connected thereto The condenser receives exhaust discharged from the mufiier and conducts the same to the at the lowest point in the condenser, serves for draining collected moisture into a collector. receptacle This receptacle is con- A fan 28, conveniently operated by an electric motor, is positioned adjacent coil 27 for causing rapid circulation of air thereover.

mufller ii, for the recovery of the vapor. In operation, this type of pump is sealed with oil, shown trapped above the gears, and is very eficient for pumping vapors.

Heat exchanger 2? is also connected by pipes or tubes 3% and 35 to the water jacket of the engine. Cut-ofi valves 36 and 3? are provided diagrammatic view of a I g r 2,444,?

heating pipes 34 and 35 will be closed to prevent the entry hot water from. the engine cooling jacket into heat exchanger 31. Valves it and 31 will be-open so as to connect coil 21 to the cooling circuit. Water condensed from the exhaust will collect in receptacle 2! and will be "drawn by pump 30 through expansion valve 24 where it will be vaporized, and through evaporator .coil 21 which, thereby. will be cooled and which will cool the air circulated thereover by fan 2|. Water vapors discharged from the gear pump will be returned through piping I to the condenser and recollected invessel 22.

Any ice formed in the collector vessel will soon thaw after the engine is started because of its proximity to the warm exhaust in condenser it. However, this receptacle may be emptied for protection in cold weather by the inter-position of a manual, three-way valve 4| in the connection between tailpipe 20 and the receptacle, as shown in l igs. 1, 3 and 4. In Fig. 3, the valve is in its summer driving position in which the condenser is connected to receptacle 22 for the collection oicondensed vapors. A vent ll provides for relief to the atmosphere of exhaust gases by-passed around tail pipe 2!. In the winter position of Fig. 4, the valve is turned to cut of! connection between the condenser and collector so that no more water will be collected from the exhaust pipe. Air is swept through vent ti and the receptacie to aid pump 30 in drawing all liquid therefrom. Such liquid is discharged into the atmosphere through pump outlet connection 13, the condenser, and tail pipe 2|. For winter driving, valves 36 and 81 are closed and valves 3' and I! opened to change coil 21 from a cooler to a heater. Also, pump Il may be disconnected, if desired.

In Fig. 2, a larger receptacle 21a is provided for water and has a filling opening a so that water can be added at regular intervals. In this form, discharge'pipe 33a opens directly into the atmosphere or, as shown, into exhaust tail pipe 20a. This arrangementis convenient and practical, where water is used as the coolant, because of its cheapness. It is only necessary to keep tank 22:: supplied with water, and this can be added each time the gasoline supply is replenished, together with checking of the radiator, oil supply, and tire pressure.- Water can be drained from the tank for winter driving through a drain cock H. The operation of the form in Fig. 2 is identical with that of Fig. 1 except that no water is recovered from the exhaust and the supply of coolant must, therefore, be constantly replenished.

The form in Fig. includes a pair of pumps 48 and 44 (preferably oil-sealed gear pumps, as in the previous forms) mounted co-axialiy at a convenient location adjacent engine block I! for operation of driving pulley 45 by the fan belt 45. Relatively large'pump M has its inlet connected by a tube 41 to evaporator coil 48 in the compartinent to be air-conditioned and thence by a tube In to the outlet of a constant level chamber 49. The float valve controlled inlet of this chamber is connected by tubes 50, iii to the-outlet of what I term the make-up water constant level chamber 52. The outlet of the chamber 52 is also connected by a tube 53 to a collector ll which receives water from condenser 55. A tube 56 to complete a closed refrigerating. circuit. Constant level chamber 4! holds the water surface in coil ll at line y1( so that evaporation and cooling occurs in the coil.

'In order to remove air from the fluid in the closed circuit and thereby to improve the emciency of the system, smaller gear pump 43 has its suction side connected'to' the said closed system by a tube 51. This pump discharges into a condenser coil Ii which also receives a part of the engine exhaust through a by-pass connection I! from tail pipe I. The by-passed exhaust is vented at 53 and the condensed moisture is collected in a vessel It and thenceis returned through tube 62 to "make-up chamber 52. The auxiliary circuit, therefore, serves to replenish the supply of coolant water and also to reduce the working pressure in the main circuit so as to draw of! air which maybe trapped therein.

For operation in warm weather, valves 85 and 5' will be closed to cut oil radiator water from the system and valves 61 and 88 opened. Water normally stands in collector 54 and bowl 52 at the level :r-z to which level the closed system is initially charged. Operation of large capacity pump It creates positive pressure in collector 54 and forces water through pipe to fill upper bowl 4! to the level 11-11. Since the outlet of bowl 4! is restricted, a greatly reduced pressure exists in pipe a. and coils 4! so that water therein is evaporated and the ambient temperature thereby reduced. The vapor is drawn into pump 44 for redelivery to coils 55 where it is condensed and returned to collector .54. A portion of the vapors are drawn into smaller pump 43 and discharged to condenser Ii which also receives a portion of the exhaust'gases from tail pipe 60. Condensate from this source is available to be forced into "make-up water" bowl 52 in case the level therein drops enough to open the float valve because of the loss of moisture from the closed system. Pump It functions to eliminate air from the closed system since collector 58 and bowl 52 serve as traps to prevent the return of air through pipe '2. Connection 5! between tail pipe 60 and condenser ii, and also exhaust relief opening 63 are restricted so that positive pressure can be maintained by smaller pump 43 in the condenser and in collector 58 for forcing coolant into float chamber 52 when its float valve is open.

The three-way valve shown in Figs. 3 and 4, of course, may be applied with advantage in Fig. 5 between either or both of condensers Iii and 55 and collectors El and 54, respectively, to facilitate draining the collectors.

The various units of the apparatus may take other forms, though it is essential that the compressor or pump be of the type adapted to handle the large volumes of water vapor necessary to produce adequate cooling. A high speed gear pump is especially adapted for this purpose. Since the escape of refrigerant cannot adversely affect either the occupants of the vehicle or the operator oi the apparatus, tight seals are not necessary around the compressor shafts. The invention may be modifled in various respects as will occur to those skilled in the art and exclusive use of all modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims is contemplated.

I claim:

1. In combination with an internal combustion engine, air conditioning apparatus comprising a high capacity compressor arranged for operation by the engine. an evaporator coil connected to the suction side of said compressor, an expansion connects the'condenser to the outlet 0! pump 44 valve connected to the inlet of said evaporator,

. to the pressure side of said compressor, a tube for draining condensed moisture from the exhaust of theengine, a water tank connected to said condenser and said tube for moisture therefrom, between said tank and said expansion valve to complete the refrigerating circuit.

2. In combination with a vehicle having an internal combustion engine, a water-charged rea condenser connected nection between said condenser and said expansion valve to complete the refrigerating circuit, and a second compressor discharging to atmosphere and with its suction side connected into said first circuit to withdraw air therefrom.

3. In combination with a vehicle having an internal combustion engine, a water-charged resecond compressor with its suction side connected into said first circuit, a second condenser connected to the engine exhaust pipe and to the high pressure side of said second"c6mpressor, a tank for collecting moisture from said second condenser, a connection between said tank and a high pressure portion her in said last mentioned connection, and a float make-up water to said first 4. In combination. with an internal combustion engine, air conditioning apparatus comprising a compressor arranged for operation by the connected to the suction a condenser connected to the pressure side of said compressor, a water container connected to said condenser and said evaporator to complete the refrigerating circuit, a passage connecting said container to the engine exhaust pipe for recovering condensed moisture therefrom, and three-way valve means in said passage adapted to open a path through said passage or to close said passage and expose said collector to atmosphere to facilitate the draining of water from said container by said compressor.

GEORGE E. SELDON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file. of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Whiteley 

